City profile · Iowa · Census ACS 2023

Ankeny, IA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Ankeny - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

70,542
Residents
$106,603
Median income
$311,300
Median home
$1,318
Median rent (state)

Ankeny - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Ankeny places in the 81st percentile for household income and the 56th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

81st
percentile, household income
67th
percentile, home value
47th
percentile, median rent
56th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Ankeny, IA

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 70,542 residents in Ankeny, a small city within Iowa. Ankeny households earn a median of $106,603 annually, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 2.6%. Typical homes in Ankeny are valued around $311,300, and the median resident age is 33.2 years. Educational attainment runs 53.2% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 74.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 742 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 34% from five years earlier. Ankeny reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 1187.5 incidents per 100,000 residents, below the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 49.5°F with 37.0 inches of precipitation per year and 24.7 inches of snowfall.

Living costs in Iowa run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Iowa scores 87.8 (Well Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,318 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Iowa's average monthly utility costs around $212 (state average). The average commute for Ankeny workers runs 17.4 minutes, with 75.3% driving alone and 16.4% working from home. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 92.0 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

70,542 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Iowa

Median Household Income

$106,603 /yr

Poverty 2.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

87.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Iowa average

How does Ankeny compare to other US cities?

Where Ankeny sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 81% higher than other cities
Home value 67% pricier than other cities
Median rent 47% pricier than other cities
Safety 56% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Iowa, Ankeny ranks #90 of 141 Iowa cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Ankeny against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Iowa only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Iowa-relative analysis

Median Home Value is Ankeny's strongest outlier among Iowa cities

Among the 849 Iowa cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Ankeny ranks #27 - the 97th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Ankeny only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#41 of 845
95th percentile in Iowa
Median Gross Rent
#34 of 858
90th percentile in Iowa
Median Home Value
#27 of 849
97th percentile in Iowa
Poverty Rate
#638 of 858
25th percentile in Iowa
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#24 of 858
97th percentile in Iowa

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Iowa only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

81stIncome percentile
56thSafety percentile

81st percentile nationally for median household income · 56th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Ankeny's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Ankeny's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 60 Avg. percentile National median
Ankeny's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Ankeny's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$311,300 33rd percentile more affordable than 33% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). This entry sits in this band. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Ankeny $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Ankeny, IA Ankeny, IA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Ankeny, IA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Ankeny, IA median $106,603/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Ankeny, IA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Ankeny, IA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 53.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 2.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 74.1%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
70,542
Median Income
$106,603
Median Home Value
$311,300
Median Age
33.2
Poverty Rate
2.6%
Labor force participation
74.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
53.2%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1187.5
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
165.9
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1021.6
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
49.5°F
Annual Precipitation
37.0"
Annual Snowfall
24.7"

Schools

Total Schools
17
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
65,000 residents70,000 residents75,000 residents80,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 68,659 residents 77,833 residents ▲ +13.4%
Ankeny's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
742
housing units authorized
Single-Family
658
detached homes
Multifamily
84
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
10.5
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 1,126
2020 1,181
2021 1,175
2022 1,133
2023 664
2024 742

Permit volume decreased 34% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
17.4 minutes
Drive Alone
75.3%
Carpool
6.2%
Public Transit
0.3%
Walk
0.8%
Work from Home
16.4%
Other
1.0%

Based on 39,141 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Iowa - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$95
avg/month
Natural Gas
$75
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$42
avg/month
Total Utilities
$212
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Iowa state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Iowa state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Ankeny sits in

Cost of Living Index
87.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,318/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
92.0 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Iowa

West Des Moines
69,893 people
Waterloo
66,947 people
Ames
66,112 people
Iowa City
75,264 people
Council Bluffs
62,564 people
Dubuque
59,271 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Ankeny's 70,542 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Dublin, CA
70,542 people
Maple Grove, MN
70,539 people
Bayonne, NJ
70,468 people
Lafayette, IN
70,650 people
Decatur, IL
70,368 people
Baldwin Park, CA
70,720 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Ankeny's $106,603 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Diamond Bar, CA
$106,602 median income
Gwynneville, IN
$106,597 median income
Hamilton Branch, CA
$106,591 median income
Madaket, MA
$106,615 median income
Rolling Hills, WY
$106,618 median income
Hacienda Heights, CA
$106,620 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Ankeny, IA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Ankeny, IA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 89.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 4.0% White 89.8% Black or African American 2.0% Asian 3.1% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.3% Two or more races 3.8% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Ankeny compares to nearby Iowa cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Ankeny (this city) 70,542 $106,603
West Des Moines 69,893 $84,925
Waterloo 66,947 $56,344
Ames 66,112 $60,102
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IA FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Ankeny, IA?

What is the population of Ankeny, IA? +

Ankeny, IA has a population of 70,542 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Ankeny, IA? +

Ankeny households earn a median of $106,603 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Ankeny? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Ankeny; the closest available measure is the Iowa state average, a cost of living index of 87.8 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Iowa vary by metro area.

Is Ankeny, IA safe? +

Ankeny has a total crime rate of 1187.5 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Ankeny, IA? +

Ankeny's median home value sits at $311,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Ankeny? +

The average annual temperature in Ankeny runs 49.5°F, 37.0 inches of precipitation, and 24.7 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.